The Treasury is the United Kingdom’s economics and finance ministry. It is responsible for formulating and implementing the government’s financial and economic policy. Its aim is to raise the rate of sustainable growth, and achieve rising prosperity and a better quality of life with economic and employment opportunities for all.

The Office of Tax Simplification

The OTS provides the Chancellor with independent advice on simplifying the UK tax system, in particular by carrying out reviews into areas of the tax system agreed with Ministers and publishing reports setting out its recommendations.

The OTS was launched in 2010, and put on a statutory footing in FA 2016 with an expanded role and capacity. Although administratively sitting within HMT, the OTS operates independently and engages equally with stakeholders outside and inside government.

The OTS’s Board is chaired by Angela Knight CBE, supported by the OTS Tax Director Paul Morton, who are in turn supported by a team of between 8 – 12 full and part-time people including civil servants and private sector specialists from the accountancy, tax and legal professions.

The Office has recently

completed a major review on the simplification of the corporation tax computation,

published a review on simplifying paper Stamp Duty,

engaged actively with HMRC’s making Tax Digital programme, and

published a number of focus papers on topics such as the Gig Economy and Disincorporation relief

The Office’s main projects lead to reports that are laid before Parliament and published online. Current and future work will, or is likely, to include:

a current review, due to report in Autumn 2017, on VAT

a new review, building on the recent corporation tax review, exploring the impacts that would result if capital allowances were be replaced with accounts depreciation

work on tax reliefs relevant at different stages in the lifecycle of a business

work on aspects of the taxation of savings and inheritance

considering the impact of technological changes on tax administration

The OTS depends on recruiting tax professionals with current or recent private sector experience on fixed term appointments, and on staff recruited on loan from HMT or HMRC.

The OTS is looking for up to 4 part-time or full-time tax professionals with current or recent experience in the private sector, and an enthusiasm to help drive out structural and administrative simplifications to the tax system, to work as policy advisers on various areas of the Office’s work, and help ensure our work has the maximum impact within HMT and HMRC, with Ministers and in public debate.

If seeking a full-time or nearly full-time role, it would be an advantage to have varied experience and interest across more than one area of tax, of working with smaller businesses or individual clients, or of managing or coordinating projects with multiple stakeholders.

The work involves policy development, research, analysis and report writing, regular liaison with HMRC & HMT teams and stakeholder evidence-gathering meetings around the country with interested parties, including businesses of all sizes, employers, tax professionals, charities, HMRC staff, academics and representative bodies. We also draw on and analyse statistics and data provided by HMRC economists and others.

Key Accountabilities:

Required Skills, Knowledge and Experience:

1. Demonstrably relevant tax expertise – encompassing

- a good technical and practical knowledge of relevant areas of taxation,

- a grounded interest in areas where changes could potentially simplify the system for significant numbers of taxpayers or make a significant difference in more focused areas,

- an ability to analyse the real-world impact of change for businesses, individuals and those who advise them

- a realistic appreciation of the implications of the economic and political context.

2. A demonstrable capacity to work creatively with business and private sector tax professional stakeholders or policy officials in government, and to engage effectively with different perspectives and priorities.

a good technical and practical knowledge of relevant areas of taxation,

a grounded interest in areas where changes could potentially simplify the system for significant numbers of taxpayers or make a significant difference in more focused areas,

an ability to analyse the real-world impact of change for businesses, individuals and those who advise them

a realistic appreciation of the implications of the economic and political context.

2. A demonstrable capacity to work creatively with business and private sector tax professional stakeholders or policy officials in government, and to engage effectively with different perspectives and priorities.

The posts will be based in London. Some working from home is possible, but we will expect you to work in our office in central London for at least one day a week if part-time, or at least 3 days a week if full time.

Hours of work

The pro rata working hours of this post are 42 per week (including meal breaks of 1 hour a day).

The posts are available either on a secondment, loan or fixed term appointment basis, and are likely initially to be for 9 to 12 months. They can be filled on a job share basis, and flexible working hours can be accommodated.